Sources of the Magnetic Field

Sources of the Magnetic Field10106011011304Sources of the Magnetic FieldMagnetic fields are created by moving electric charge (as when a current flows in a wire) or by electrons or protons (which act like little bar magnets) or by some magnetic atoms, such as iron. Some aspects of the magnetism of elements like iron can be imagined as due to the orbital motion of electrons circling the nucleus, and hence acting like little current loops, but even for iron the main magnetic effect results from the fact that electrons act somewhat like little spinning spheres of charge. Unfortunately, these models of atoms and electrons are wrong, even though we use them to help envision what is happening. As far as I can tell, no one understands …Next Chapter >< Previous Chapter